Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/308664
SAGAFTRA.org | Spring 2014 | SAG-AFTRA 51B eager to be on the negotiating committee, had he lived. He was in a lot of pain, but no one knew it (he looked great , in fact), and he spoke of it privately to me to explain why he had to miss few meetings — as if it were only a slight annoyance. Jim loved his family and friends so much, and was certainly beloved in return — which comes as no surprise, given the kind of man he was — but it was his courage through to the end that took my breath away. Truly a prince among men — and such a loss to us all. —POLLY ADAMS, National Board Member My memories of Jim are visually sideways, because they are mostly from W&Ws or negotiations on which I served or vice chaired. Jim liked to take a seat along the wall, gift us with that great profile and watch the proceedings with a careful and dedicated eye. He was always ready to put his recognizability to use for the union if need be. Quite simply, he was a good man. —HOLTER GRAHAM, National Board Member Jim is another recent blow and heartfelt loss to the N.Y. actor community, although his renown reached many. He was emblematic of the rank-and-file success of a true union professional: greatly respected, yet largely unknown by way of high-end celebrity. He is and will ever be missed. —EZRA KNIGHT, National Board Member Jim has always represented for me that which is best in those of us who struggle to make a life and a living doing what we do. He produced an extraordinary body of work, never failing to convey the deep sense of humanity of every character he played. He was always simple, honest and real. He was, in short, a hell of an actor. But more importantly, he was a mensch. He was consistently humble, kind and generous. He was a gentle man and a gentleman. —RICHARD MASUR, former SAG President, former National Board Member I was so fortunate to get to know Jim Rebhorn while working on J.T. Rodgers' play The Overwhelming at the Roundabout. I knew him from his body of work and wanted to be cool when I first met him, but I needn't have worried. Jim was as down to earth as they come and became the glue that held our cast together. I loved watching him work deeply and meticulously, without drama, to create a fully realized career diplomat caught in the Rwandan crisis. And I also loved listening to him discuss union issues with other cast members backstage. It was an education. I was struck by his commitment to serve and to get immersed in the details that affect us all. It was the first I'd seen that up close and I value that example. What a true gentlemen. In the past weeks, I've loved reading the tributes to Jim and, of course, the obituary he wrote himself. His was a life incredibly well lived. He'll be missed. —LINDA POWELL, National Board Member I met Jim on the set of The Talented Mr. Ripley in 1998; it was a scorching N.Y. summer day and we were all wearing wool suits on a rooftop along Central Park. We sat in a cool room on the top of the building in between takes, and that's where Jim and I got to chat. Jim was always the consummate professional and gentleman. Last time I saw him was three weeks before he died at the 2014 W&W TV/Theatrical Caucus. I had the pleasure of giving him a tour of the new SAG-AFTRA space at 1900 Broadway and we sat together during the meeting. He was the best that our business has to offer, in every way. He will be missed by all on so many levels. —KEVIN SCULLIN, National Board Member I am saddened by the loss of this consummate "actor's actor" and someone I was fortunate enough to be able to call a friend as well as a colleague. I had the pleasure of working with Jim for an extended time on The Overwhelming at the Roundabout Theatre in 2007 and then again briefly in Lost in the Stars at City Center Encores! in 2011. In between, we kept in touch and chatted about art, life, religion, family and the actors' unions — of which he was a strong supporter and advocate — among other things. I tried to talk him into showing up for a local New Jersey art gallery's fundraising gala around this time last year and he declined, telling me about his cancer recurrence and how it had forced him to cut back on some things, but that he would be happy to do what he could. Because that was Jim. Always ready to lend a hand in his quiet, self-effacing way. Mind you, he was also incredibly funny! He ended his message by saying he would fill me in when he saw me and, "As for my health, it's a long, long story. We all wrestle with the meaning of life and the limits of our own mortality. My grappling is just more ever present, and I've discovered that's not necessarily a bad thing." Very Jim. I had the pleasure of spending the last 40 minutes of almost every performance of The Overwhelming with Jim in his dressing room, sharing his sandwich and a beer and stories while we waited for our curtain call. These memories will always bring a smile to my face. But I will miss my friend. "Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." —SHARON WASHINGTON, New York Local Board I met Jim Rebhorn over a dozen years ago. I was in a play in Maplewood, N.J., and he lived in nearby South Orange. Always an avid supporter of local professional theater, Jim came to opening night and then sought me out at the after party to introduce himself and compliment my work. He approached me like any other audience member rather than like a famous "star." I will never forget his grace, kindness and generosity. A prince in every way. —LIZ ZAZZI, National Board Member